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China’s plan to organize its society relies on ‘big data’ to rate everyone

washingtonpost.com

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Re: China’s plan to organize its society relies on ‘big data’ to rate everyone

#11

Post by maxerickson »

dkarapetyan wrote: post #4

This is what the DMV does with the point system. The FBI and CIA I think also collect statistics and profile relevant individuals. The difference I guess is that most of these systems are in separate silos. The Chinese government is taking the next logical step and linking it all together. Reminds me of a quote Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they shoul…

Points aren't really big data, they are based on rare, high signal events rather than small statistical differences across many observations.

Re: China’s plan to organize its society relies on ‘big data’ to rate everyone

#12

Post by dkarapetyan »

maxerickson wrote: post #11
dkarapetyan wrote: post #4

This is what the DMV does with the point system. The FBI and CIA I think also collect statistics and profile relevant individuals. The difference I guess is that most of these systems are in separate silos. The Chinese government is taking the next logical step and linking it all together. Reminds me of a quote Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they shoul…

Points aren't really big data, they are based on rare, high signal events rather than small statistical differences across many observations.

Sure but on the spectrum of tracking data where exactly are you going to draw the line? I'm not saying I agree with what they are doing but clearly these kinds of systems already exist. This kind of reward and punishment system exists pretty much in any large enough organization. What is an internal review and promotion system if not some kind of systematic tracking of data to reward "good" behavior?

If the Chinese government is viewed as one giant organization then again this is just a logical extension of such systems.

They are just taking a cue from credit rating agencies.

Re: China’s plan to organize its society relies on ‘big data’ to rate everyone

#13

Post by alextheparrot »

aub3bhat wrote: post #2

I just finished watching the Nosedive (Season 3, episode 1) from Black Mirror on Netflix, it shows a similar system. Unlike other Black Mirror episodes its quite well balanced. I would highly highly recommend watching it.

After finishing the season today, they've really stepped up their game, it seems, from the previous seasons.

Re: China’s plan to organize its society relies on ‘big data’ to rate everyone

#14

Post by idlewords »

walterbell wrote: post #3

Project Cybersyn in 1970's Chile, http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/13/planning-machin... "Beer was a leading theorist of cybernetics—a discipline born of midcentury efforts to understand the role of communication in controlling social, biological, and technical systems. Chile’s government had a lot to control: Allende, who took office in November of 1970, had swiftly nationalized the country’s key industries…

Cybersyn was about giving the government what we would call a 'dashboard' of the planned economy (with Star Trek chairs), not social control.

Re: China’s plan to organize its society relies on ‘big data’ to rate everyone

#15

Post by oldmanjay »

aub3bhat wrote: post #2

I just finished watching the Nosedive (Season 3, episode 1) from Black Mirror on Netflix, it shows a similar system. Unlike other Black Mirror episodes its quite well balanced. I would highly highly recommend watching it.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia used this concept as a plotline, and managed to treat it with more subtlety. Granted, it's a comedy, so the tone was wildly different.

Re: China’s plan to organize its society relies on ‘big data’ to rate everyone

#17

Post by cscurmudgeon »

dkarapetyan wrote: post #4

This is what the DMV does with the point system. The FBI and CIA I think also collect statistics and profile relevant individuals. The difference I guess is that most of these systems are in separate silos. The Chinese government is taking the next logical step and linking it all together. Reminds me of a quote Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they shoul…

DMV tracking whether you are driving drunk is not the same as the Chinese govt. tracking whether you praise the govt. on Facebook.

> The FBI and CIA I think also collect statistics and profile relevant individuals.

Citation needed (especially that they do it for everyone).

Re: China’s plan to organize its society relies on ‘big data’ to rate everyone

#18

Post by arjie »

Well, this is bad because it's the Chinese government.

But companies like Airbnb have to use proxy metrics like number of Facebook friends. If I could be proven to be the trustworthy person I am, then a host wouldn't need to look at all that. If I'm known to have destroyed someone's home, then someone else on Turo knows better than to rent to me.

In practice, it's likely to turn into an eBay style "A++++ best person ever. Let me on the bus brilliantly! 5/5" but the idea isn't terrible on its own.

Re: China’s plan to organize its society relies on ‘big data’ to rate everyone

#20

Post by an_account »

dkarapetyan wrote: post #12
maxerickson wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Points aren't really big data, they are based on rare, high signal events rather than small statistical differences across many observations.

Sure but on the spectrum of tracking data where exactly are you going to draw the line? I'm not saying I agree with what they are doing but clearly these kinds of systems already exist. This kind of reward and punishment system exists pretty much in any large enough organization. What is an internal review and promotion system if not some kind of systematic tracking of data to reward "good" behavior? If the Chinese g…

I would not be okay with my company rating me based on ML computed metrics of my performance based on everything that I do in (and out?) of the office
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